Cosimo A. Zavaglia advises corporations, partnerships, and individuals on state and local tax (SALT) controversy, planning, and transactional matters. Cosimo routinely represents clients in high-stakes state and local tax audits, appeals, and litigations in matters throughout the United States, including defending clients in state False Claims Act cases and sales and use tax, individual residency, withholding tax, corporate income tax, and real estate transfer tax audits and disputes. He also advises clients on developing state and local tax planning strategies for corporate acquisitions, dispositions, restructurings, and mergers.
Cosimo works closely with a broad range of clients, including Fortune 500 companies, enterprising startups, and high-net-worth individuals, to develop solutions to mitigate state and local tax risks. He advises in all stages of state and local tax controversy—from initial information gathering, through negotiations and settlement, as well as litigation and appeals, if necessary. Cosimo also obtains formal and informal rulings from state and local tax authorities in many jurisdictions on several issues across tax types and has represented companies and industry groups in legislative and regulatory matters. Prior to joining Morgan Lewis, Cosimo worked in the state and local tax practice of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
In addition to writing extensively on tax subjects, Cosimo has lectured on a broad range of state and local tax topics throughout the country, including for the Tax Executives Institute. He is also active in pro bono work, and is a member of the pro bono committee for the New York office.
Member, State & Local Tax Editorial Advisory Board, Law360 Tax Authority (2022, 2023)
Fellow, American Bar Foundation
Recommended, Tax: US taxes: contentious, The Legal 500 US (2019)
Recommended, Tax: US taxes: non-contentious, The Legal 500 US (2019)
Member, Practice Group of the Year, Tax, Law360 (2017)
Member, American Bar Association, Section of Taxation
Member, New York State Bar Association